Is it just me of have we had more pre-release images of the 9800 Slider than other devices? This round shows off some good angles and give us a bit more of a look than we've had in the past. Included are some amazingly clear images of the 9800 including the SIM and SD slots. These images really show off the good looks of the device and actually make me want one quite a bit now. The keyboard and screen look amazing in these shots and I'm ready to have one ... now. Hit the jump for some more images.

It just doesn't appeal to me one bit. I don't know. Maybe it's the fact it follows the 9700/storm2 styling as opposed to the Bold 9000/Bold 9650 stlying with it's curved aluminum etc...

What I really don't like is the USB placement near the left of the keypad. Also, Don't like the fact that the keyboard seems to be the 9700 keyboard and not the superior 9000 keyboard which I'm sure can easily fit.

Also, why the smaller 1350 battery? A touchscreen device like this needs all the battery power it can get and should at least use the same 1550 one as the bold 9000/9700.

It seems that RIM releases a device like this on one carrier for a few weeks only, then it hits other carriers. T-Mobile got the 9700 a few weeks before AT&T. Maybe it's AT&T's turn for this one first.

True GSM can't run on Verizon or Sprint - but that's not to say they won't release a CDMA version soon after. It would only make sense for RIM to sell this device to as many carriers as possible. I've got my fingers crossed for CDMA Sprint version by the end of the year :)

so im a storm 2 user and i love it, i really like the idea of having a touch screen and a touch screen. i have never been a fan of sliders since my friend had one in 04' but from these pics i think i could make a compromise for RIM!

I wonder, is that all the farther the keyboard will slide out? Seems that the top row of keys has very little space from the edge of the screen, at least as pictured. That could make it harder to hit the keys. That's really my only concern with the device at this point!

lol u didnt put much attention, cuz if u look again, it wasnt fully opened, how i know u say ? well look that the top row, was A S D F G H J K L and DEL, so there was even 1 more row on top of that one, and im sure that is fully opened it will have a decent space from the edge of the screen to the 1st row, remenber that the people that are doing this, are experts, if u understand what i mean

In the last picture (the one with a Storm2 on top of the 9800), you can clearly see the top row of the keyboard as well as what appears to be a reasonable space above the top row and below the bottom of the sliding screen.

Upgraded to the 9700 in may... Now all these leaks and rumored releases happen. WTF. Might have to add a line when the data plans change for att. Then sign me a new 2 year to get the 9800 when it comes to town.

I only ask because I saw just one..and the back looks a lot like the 8900, as does the whole headphone jack on the right side of the device thing. =S I have mixed feelings about this one. But, it is my dream phone, with a touch screen and a physical keyboard. xD

unless they made it almost invisible, there is no convenience key on the left side! A little disappointing as the convenience keys are something that not many other phones have and I use both of mine frequently...

Ohter thing I noticed is the placement of the usb port has returned to being low on the left side like the 8900 instead of high where it is on the 9700.. makes it harder to use phone when it's connected...

Third thing I just saw is the 8900 batt instead of the 9700? Especially running OS6, that seems questionable...

Mayeb it's due to what the innards have to look like with the touch/keybrd combo, but those small details are definitely steps backwards...

Not deal breakers if the other features are all there, but just makes me ask why they would do that.. Other than that, it looks great, but need to hear some specs to be 100% convinced at this point...

Its starting to look like a device I would actually purchase. Its Palm Pre - 9700 - Storm is growing on me. I think its safe to say that we may all be looking at the "Perfect BlackBerry." Is this the Iphone vs Android beware vs Consumer vs Busniess-Centric device?

If it runs the way we want it to, this is the kind of device a person may camp out in front of the store over (I wouldn't, but some people are into that).

The touchscreen will be the maker or breaker, because nobody does keyboards better then RIM.

was not recently interested in this phone till i saw the new pics here , so went to youtube and watched a video-only phone that may get me to drop my 9700(shhh)if released on t-mo by dec (most likely yes)

I am sure this will sell and the hardware looks decent, but the redundancy kills me. Why have a touchscreen, a trackpad and a fixed keyboard - its stupid. They should work on just making a decent virtual keyboard instead.

Are you familiar with a device called the Droid? If you want to make one device with broad appeal, you need to offer options. It's redundant from a technical standpoint, but from a practical standpoint, some users are only going to use the QWERTY, while others will mostly use the touchscreen keyboard. Makes sense to me.

I also wouldn't buy a Droid for the same reason. It's extraneous to have multiple inputs. It bothers me equally as much on PC laptops that have pointing sticks and trackpads. Just my opinion...I like design simplicity.

This device looks ridiculous. The trackpad is so low, using this with 1 hand will result in dropping the phone more often, guarenteed. The touch screen will just be a remix of the Storms, probably not any better. Sliders didn't last long for a reason. Not to metion the brick you will be holding to your face while talking. Another horrible decision by RIM.

First of all, I don't know that this device looks significantly larger or bulkier than my 9700. I actually would be fine if the 9700 were larger...the 9000 was arguably more comfortable to use (except for the trackball).

Second, while this is a phone first and foremost, I think fewer and fewer people actually hold up their phones like a traditional land line phone. I use mine much more for email/text/data than actual calls, and when I do call, I'm using either Bluetooth or speakerphone probably more often than I'm physically holding it to my face.

that you'll probably use the trackpad only when typing on the physical keyboard (slider up), so the trackpad will actually lay higher and more comfortably in that position. When the slider is closed it's more likely that navigation will be through the touchscreen and not the trackpad.

I love the look of this phone, and certainly want one, but I like to keep it in a skin. The bottom looks like it can handle one, but it's hard to tell if there's enough "lip" on the top to hold one securely in place without interfering with the slide.

I guess with a bottom skin and good screen protector, I'll just have to be careful with the edges of the top piece.

The key to this device is not the hardware, it's the software. If 6.0 is a success and works with the touchscreen the way it's supposed to, then the 9800 probably becomes RIM's top device.

If the OS is sluggish, laggy, and difficult to use, as it appeared in that leaked 9800 video a few weeks back, then I think I'd rather keep using my 9700 on OS 5. My concern is that people are going to see the touchscreen and expect it to do pinch zoom, rubberbanding, and all the other things that make iPhone and Droid touchscreen devices nice to use...but it may not do those things well or at all.

Looks better every leak! I wonder, with the 9700A leaks about an updated Bold II getting more memory and a faster CPU it makes at least rumored sense that the 9800 would also kick up the CPU (although I haven't seen that reported) in order to take better advantadge of 6.0.

When I spotted that T-Mobile sim card I just flew out of my chair. I hope that is good news for us T-Mobile customers. That is one bad ass looking device. I hope that also comes with the new powerful processor, big memory and of course better camera and throw in the new OS. That will make my summer.

The more I see the pictures of this phone and have played with the Iphone. The more I love this idea. I love my physical keyboard on my 9700. The touchscreen is also appealing and I get to keep my BBM vs going to an Iphone.

Not a slider fan in general, but it looks like RIM did this one right and I think it will appeal to many BB and smart phone fans. It really shows some promise for both the consumer and the corporate sectors.

wow, that looks really thick, i think that it isn't that fun to carry it around in you're pocket, altough the screen looks so great, so detailed and sharp and bright. so looks are good but i think it's to massive, only if you carry it on you're belt it would be something, but when you carry it in a sleeve in you're pocket...

I spoke to one of my friends today who works at the Source and is in the wireless specialist department, he says there suppose to receive the Blackberry 9800 July 1st, as bb is using this device to run against the new iphone coming out. This is just word of mouth I have nothing to back it up with.

I was seriously considering jumping off the Blackberry ship I have rode for so long when the new IPhone gets released. But after seeing these pictures I think I will just stay on and enjoy the Blackberry ride. I want this phone now.

I absolutely LOVE how this phone looks and would buy one today if it were released, but I hate where they've put the charger/USB port. I currently have a Tour, and have been considering the 9650 as my next phone (since I'm on Sprint and will not likely see the 9800 anytime soon), and I HATE that the charging port is right next to the keyboard. You have to straddle the darn thing with your fingers whenever you use it while charging. Other than that, this phone appears to be the phone I've been wanting RIM to produce since I had my first BlackBerry.

Given the fact that it is a very polished looking phone, I'm still reserved. Maybe I'm the only one. But, I've been with T-Mo since 2005 and when the Bold (9000) was announced, I was excited...hyped even. Especially, since I was using a Pearl (8100).

Well, long story short. The Bold didn't come to T-Mo (idiots) and then when the Curve (8900) and Bold (9700) were released I was disappointed in the femininity of them both.

ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS ANOTHER MANLY BLACKBERRY!!!!!!!!!

Iphones are for the prettybois
Droids are for the rugged ones
and Blackberrys (well 9000) are for the traveling, golfing, life of the party, charming MEN men....

that motion. I'm w/t-mo & won't bail -uma alone is worth the price of admission. RIM has to put out the orginal bold and tack on all the improvements of this 9800 in regards to chip, memory, OS6 & trackpad. That would be the ultimate BB.

RIM is definetly going in the right direction here; but I kind of miss the 9700's leather simulation battery cover. Never had troubles with mine; it's strong and well built, does not scratch; what else could you possibly want on a battery door? The OS look awesome but still lacks behind the competition... the phone design is sexy, perfect combo between a qwerty and a touch screen. Definitely this is shaping like my next smartphone.

I think it looks stunning, didnt like the idea of BB slider when first announced but this looks great.
Have a feeling this will be like the Storm when closed but when slid open the touchscreen will stop working & the trackpad / keyboard will come into play like the 9700 otherwise why have a navagation pad.

I have a 8310 and 2nd line with a 9700. Upgrade time approaches in a month for the 8310 and I would like to replace it with this but there's so many options I use on my Curve that hope the 9800 has. My old reliable(exculding trackball) Curve has GPS, Flash for the camera, convenience keys, great key board. I wish we had specs on it and a release date.

I have a 8310 and 2nd line with a 9700. Upgrade time approaches in a month for the 8310 and I would like to replace it with this but there's so many options I use on my Curve that hope the 9800 has. My old reliable(exculding trackball) Curve has GPS, Flash for the camera, convenience keys, great key board. I wish we had specs on it and a release date.

I have a 8310 and 2nd line with a 9700. Upgrade time approaches in a month for the 8310 and I would like to replace it with this but there's so many options I use on my Curve that hope the 9800 has. My old reliable(exculding trackball) Curve has GPS, Flash for the camera, convenience keys, great key board. I wish we had specs on it and a release date.

I honestly like this phone, and I'm also one of those people that love their blackberry storm. I Just got done playing with the new sprint Android-powered HTC EVO 4G and I mean the screen is huge. Both Droids have larger screens and with the new I phone 4 announced today due out before the end of the month I think it's time the blackberry design team get back to work. It's time for something new or at least capable of Keeping up.

Is someone giving us a hint with the T-Mobile sim card? It does look really good now. I think I will check even closer to see what it does, what type of setup it ends up with. Thus far, it is worth buying right now! I'm aching to get it the moment it comes out but I must hold back to see what the final product brings!!!

first of all the phone has land scape why the hell they didnt put a side sliding keyboard like a side kick or some thing like a droid or what ever not a 9700 bb keyboard it would of been way better that way cuz of the land scape on the screen it looks like is going to be heavy when u slide the screen out an start typing it just dont look comfortable an who ever know the size of the screen let me know

Of a great big screen with the uber-usable BB Qwerty... What an awesome device. Hopefully having a touch screen won't mean it's plagued with problems similar to the Storm. Throw a CDMA radio in it and it's sold! I'll bet we'll never see it on the CDMA side since there have been real leaks regarding that possibility. Too bad. Kinda like the Bold. Superb device available from a crippled network (I think they're getting better though).

CrackBerry is in no way Affiliated with BlackBerry. We take pride in our unbiased content, however do occasionally receive free products from vendors that we review or discuss. For more info click here.